Water-retarding means for locomotive tenders



Feb. 25-, 1930. H. M. GRAY 1,748,066

WATER RETARDING MEANS FOR LOCOMOTIVE TENDERS Filed Feb. 9. 1928 2 Sheets-Shee Feb. 25, 1930.

gmmtov 2 Sheets-Sheet H. M. GRAY Filed 36b. 9, 1928 WATER RETARDINQ MEANS FOR LOGOMOTIVE TENDERS Patented Feb. 25, 1930 PATENT OFFICE HUBERT'M. GRAY, on TOLEDO, OHIO V'WATER-VRETARDING MEANS non LOCOMOTIVE TENDERS Application filed February 9, 1928. Serial No. 253,149.

I This invention relates to water supplying devicesfor locomotive tenders, but more particularly to such devices employing a waterengaging. scoop -movable into and out' of .5 water-engagingposition for scooping or delivering water to the tender while the 1000- motive is in motion;

Heretofore, devices of this character have not been efficient-because of the great waste of 10 water occasioned by the force of the moving scoop engaging the stationary body of water and resulting in the splashing of water outside of the water trough. It is desirable that as much waste as possible be saved so that the amount of water required to refill the trough is reduced to a minimum. Because of the large number of thesetroughs in use, it has been found that the cost of looking after these troughs and keeping them supplied 20 with water is exceedingly great.

Such loss of water also results in water splashing on the tracks, which in cold weather freezes, and the removal of ice is costly. The

enormous cost of the labor to a railroad sysj g5 temffor attending to this requires that means he provided for eliminating this loss and splashing of water'- Numerous other disadvantages are apparent to those familiar with this type of railroad work.

Objects of this invention are to providea simple and efiicient device for retarding the flow or breakingthe force of the water cre ated during the water supplying operation of a locomotive employing the scooping meth- 0d; and to provide a water supplyingdevice for locomotive tenders having the new and improved features of construction and arrangement hereinafter described.

An outstanding characteristic of the invention resides in the provision of shields disposed on opposite sides of the water scoop having water-breaking or retarding means, which is effective largely to eliminate splashing or throwing of the water over the 45 rails, and thereby reduce to a minimum the -waste or loss of water. In this manner the rush of water between the shields, which would otherwise result in covering the rails and a considerable loss, is checked or retarded 59 andreturned to the water trough.

An illustrative embodiment of the invention is shown on the drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional elevation of a portion of a locomotive showing the scoop and water regarding elements;

Fig. 2 is a front end elevation partly in vertical section of the construction shown in Fig. l;

- Fig. 3 is a bottom plan View of the shields and water regarding means;

Fig. 4 is a rear end elevation of shields and water retarding means removed from the locomotive;

Fig. 5 is an outside side elevation of one of the shields; J

Fig. 6 is a top plan'view partly in section of one of the battles; and

Fig. 7 is an elevation of a'shield showing an alternate arrangement of battles.

The illustrated embodiment of the invention comprises a locomotive tender having a water tank 1 to which water is supplied through an inlet or stand pipe 2 projecting through the bottom of the tank, and opening into the cover of the tank in the usual manner. The lower end of the stand pipe 2 terminates below the bottom of the tank 1, and pivoted to this end for vertical swinging movement is a scoop 3, which may be raised or lowered with respect to the water-engaging position by suitable connections 4, forming no part of the present invention, and therefore, not described in detail.

On either side of the scoop 3 is a vertically disposed plate or shield 5 spaced apart sufficiently to afford room for movement of the scoop. The scoop is swung downwardly below the level of the water in the trough 6 disposed between the rails of the track so that the speed of the locomotive creates sufiicient force to cause the water to pass through the stand pipe 2 into the tank, as will readily be understood.

Proceeding in accordance with the invention, the sides of the shields 5 at'the front portions thereof are outwardly bowed intermediate the upper and lower edges, as shown at 7, to form a wider space in the forward region of the shields to accommodate a greater mass of water thrown upwardly by the scoop engaging the water when the locomotive is traveling at a high rate of speed. The

' bowed portions 7 are relatively wide in a ver- 7 of the shields. r

In the region of the bowed portions, are baffle plates 8, which, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, are inclined rearwardly, and-areprovided with perforations 9. If desired, the baffles may be inclined. in the opposite direction, as indicated at 8 in Fig. 7. It is apparent that the force of water strikingagainst the baffles 8 is materially retarded, and the rearward rush of the water is broken up.

Itis to be noted thatthe baflies 8 on the shields 7 extend toward each other, but sufficient space is provided to permit vertical swinging movement of the scoop. 3. The spacing of the baffles with respect to each other, may be varied, but preferably they should be sufficiently spaced to permit the passage of water between them, the purpose being to have a retarding effect on the force of the mass, and to a great extent reduce the splash.

In order further to breakup the force of the water, the shields are formed with extensions 10, which are inclined toward each other at 10*, and then extend vertically downward as shown at 10", providing a space therebetween of substantially the width of the scoop '3. Joining the shields 5 is a series of rods 11,

which are massed or closely associated at the lower portions of the shields, but the spaces between the rods gradually increase toward the upper parts of the shields.

' The rods 11 serve as additional retarding means, and further break up the force of the waterpassing between the shields so that the excess is returned to the trough 6 without any great loss. The restricted lower part: of the shields in the region of the rods causes the water to return to the center of the trough, and prevents the water splashing over and covering the rails.

From the above description, it is apparent that when the locomotive is traveling at a high rate of speed and the scoop 3 is lowered to engage the water in the trough 6, the water does not pass freely and swiftly between the plates or shields 5 to the rear, but the battles 8 are first encountered by the, water,and these serve to check or break up the initial force of the mass. The perforations 9 permit the water to pass through the baffles, but it is ob vious' that considerable of the force is'lost at this point. The outward bulging sides of the shields enable a relativelygreat mass of water to be handled,.and provides space to allow the water to spread outwardly. From the bafiies the natural tendency of the water will be to pass to the rods 11, whichniaterially retard the flow and allow the excess water to be returned to the trough 6through the restricted sides of theshield extensions 10 with praetically no waste or splash. 1 An important advantage of my invention resides in reducing the loss of water occasioned by the engagement between the scoop and water in the water trough, audit is found i that the water loss is reduced to-a minimum.

Thefwater passing between the shields from front to rear is greatly retarded in its passage, so that the greater portion of the excess water is returned to the trough, thereby eliminatingthe objectionable features ofwater loss and splashing heretofore experienced. Because ofthe great saving in water effected by the above described arrangement, the necessity of such frequent'refilling of troughs, as

has heretofore been necessary, is eliminated,

thereby considerably reducing the expense of maintaining these troughs in properlyfilled condition. To thoseskilled in this art and familiar with railroad work of this character, the advantage of thus saving theexcess water will be readily understood."

Numerous changes indetails of construction and arrangement may be effected without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims... o

What, I-claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a watersupplying device for locomotives having, a scoop, a pair'ofvertically disposed shields spaced apart to receive the scoop therebetween, and a series of inclined baffle-units on saidplates for breaking the 7 force of the water splashed between said i plates when the scoop is moved to operative position.

2. In a water motive tenders having a scoop, a pairofhorizontally spaced shields provided with outscoop upp yin device, for l'locohorizontally spaced shields providedon the V inside with outwardly extending;- portions to form a relatively 'widepassage intermediate the vertical ends of the shields, and means in said portions for retarding the'force v, of water splashed between the shields of the scoop.

4. In a water supplyingdevice for 1000- motive tenders having a water scoop, a pair of spaced, shields providing a space for the water scoop therebetween, bafli'e means in the forward portion ofsaid shields, and retarding means in the rearward portion of said shields thereby to break the force of the water i splashed between the shields when the scoop is moved to water-engaging.position.

r 5. In a water supplying device for loco- I motive tenders having a scoop, a pairof its vertically disposed shields having outwardly extending recesses on the inside thereof, and perforated baflie means on the inside of said shields for breaking the force of the 5 Water created by the scoop during scooping 7 operation. 1

6. In a water supplying device for locomotive tenders having a water scoop, a pair of spaced shields providing a space for the Water scoop therebetween andhaving outwardly bowed portions on the inside thereof to form a relatively wide passage, in-

clined baflle members on the inside of said shields and in said bowed portions, and a 5 plurality of closely spaced elements in the rearward portion of said shields for retarding the force of the Water passing there- 'through. I 7. In a water supplying device for locomotive tenders having a water scoop, means for reducing the force of the water created by the scoop when moved to water-engaging position, said meansincluding a pair of transversely spaced shields, baflie means in the forward position of the shields, and a plurality of closely spaced elements in the rearward portion of the shields.

8. In a'water supplying device for locomotive tenders having a water scoop, means for reducing the force of the water created by the scoop when moved to water-engaging position, said means including a pair of transversely spaced shields, baffle means in the forward position of the shields, and a plurality of closely spaced elements in the rearward portion of the shields, said elements being spaced farther apart at the upper portion thereof and the number thereof gradually increasing to the lower portion thereof. 9. In a water supplying device for 1000- motive tenders having a water' scoop movable into scooping relation with the water while the locomotive is in position, a pair of trans- T versely spaced stationary shields, and a se- 5 ries of retarding means on the inside of said shields for gradually breaking the force of the water created by the engagement of the scoop with the water.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name to this specification.

HUBERT M. GRAY. 

